Sky Tree Tokyo
Aug 16, 2015 | 1:13 pm
#1
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Sky Tree Tokyo
Anyone have any experience/advice?
I'm trying to understand the fast ticket though not clear if needs to be bought in advance?
Also, any advice on best time of day?
(I know there are other decks that might be better, but I'm a sucker for tall)
I'm trying to understand the fast ticket though not clear if needs to be bought in advance?
Also, any advice on best time of day?
(I know there are other decks that might be better, but I'm a sucker for tall)
Aug 16, 2015 | 1:20 pm
#2
Join Date: Oct 2003
Posts: 2,538
The SkyTree fast ticket is purchased on the day of visit.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3064.html
In order to visit the second observatory, you need to purchase a ticket to the first and go up. The ticket counter for the second observatory is on the deck for the first observatory and you must queue with everyone for those tickets. There's a board which states how the visibility is near the ticket desk.
http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e3064.html
In order to visit the second observatory, you need to purchase a ticket to the first and go up. The ticket counter for the second observatory is on the deck for the first observatory and you must queue with everyone for those tickets. There's a board which states how the visibility is near the ticket desk.
Aug 16, 2015 | 2:57 pm
#3
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One thing you cannot plan in advance is weather. If the day of the visit to Sky Tree happen to be overcast, then the visibility from the observatory can be zero.
Aug 16, 2015 | 6:54 pm
#4
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This thread has more information that might be useful: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/japan...e-tickets.html
Aug 16, 2015 | 7:21 pm
#5
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Good, non-busy time is a weekday when school's in session, morning (I'd get there before 10.30am). With that, I would think the wait for the ticket should be 5-15min and then you should be able to get on the elevator pretty much right away. It's also popular to go there right before sunset, but it'll be busier then.
Of course, there's almost no sense in going if it's not a clear day. You have the best chances for a clear view during winter.
Tokyo Sky Tree is the best out of the towers imo. I think it's well-positioned for a very nice view of Tokyo skyline with potentially Mt.Fuji in the background. It's got an extensive shopping/dining complex below that's an attraction in its own right, although I personally don't like the layout and I think there're definitely better shopping complexes elsewhere. I did have possibly the best maccha latte I've ever had, though.
Of course, there's almost no sense in going if it's not a clear day. You have the best chances for a clear view during winter.
Tokyo Sky Tree is the best out of the towers imo. I think it's well-positioned for a very nice view of Tokyo skyline with potentially Mt.Fuji in the background. It's got an extensive shopping/dining complex below that's an attraction in its own right, although I personally don't like the layout and I think there're definitely better shopping complexes elsewhere. I did have possibly the best maccha latte I've ever had, though.
Aug 17, 2015 | 4:00 pm
#6
Join Date: Sep 2011
Posts: 161
I don't know how many public observation decks/towers there are in Tokyo but I've been on at least three of them that I remember (Skytree, Tokyo Tower and Mori Tower) and Skytree's probably my favorite of those.
Mori Tower's interesting in that it has an art gallery and aquarium right *in* the observation deck (since it's a building and not a thin skeleton tower, they can use the interior space), and it has a shopping center below. But the view isn't that great as I remember.
Tokyo Tower is of course iconic and I'd still recommend going there because as a tourist, you kinda have to at some point - it's one of the obligatory Tokyo sights. The tower itself is ok but it is *very* touristy and crowded and you can't go very high. I personally think this tower is better to look at from the outside than the inside these days.
Skytree is just amazing in many ways, though. It's gigantic, and the observation decks are way up high on it. There's really no better view of Tokyo except maybe from an airplane.
I would recommend those Fast Tickets if you can get them. My wife and I stood in the regular line, which wasn't that bad but it did take about 30 minutes to get through. That's *after* the wait until your scheduled time - the time on your ticket is just the time you can get *into* the line. We went in summer as well and like many places in Tokyo, the air conditioning wasn't cranked very high - it was still hot and sticky as we waited. The decks themselves are well cooled, though.
I do recommend going all the way up to the Tembo Galleria... the view itself isn't that different but a) be honest, this is probably the one time you will go up in Skytree, and b) the gallery itself is pretty neat, because you're literally just on an enclosed walkway that's bolted onto the side of the tower. It feels a little dangerous. The walkway also spirals upward, so you can see one end from the other when you come back around, and there's a photo service where you can have your picture taken through the glass at the other end with all of Tokyo below you. It's kind of a unique angle.
Mori Tower's interesting in that it has an art gallery and aquarium right *in* the observation deck (since it's a building and not a thin skeleton tower, they can use the interior space), and it has a shopping center below. But the view isn't that great as I remember.
Tokyo Tower is of course iconic and I'd still recommend going there because as a tourist, you kinda have to at some point - it's one of the obligatory Tokyo sights. The tower itself is ok but it is *very* touristy and crowded and you can't go very high. I personally think this tower is better to look at from the outside than the inside these days.
Skytree is just amazing in many ways, though. It's gigantic, and the observation decks are way up high on it. There's really no better view of Tokyo except maybe from an airplane.
I would recommend those Fast Tickets if you can get them. My wife and I stood in the regular line, which wasn't that bad but it did take about 30 minutes to get through. That's *after* the wait until your scheduled time - the time on your ticket is just the time you can get *into* the line. We went in summer as well and like many places in Tokyo, the air conditioning wasn't cranked very high - it was still hot and sticky as we waited. The decks themselves are well cooled, though.
I do recommend going all the way up to the Tembo Galleria... the view itself isn't that different but a) be honest, this is probably the one time you will go up in Skytree, and b) the gallery itself is pretty neat, because you're literally just on an enclosed walkway that's bolted onto the side of the tower. It feels a little dangerous. The walkway also spirals upward, so you can see one end from the other when you come back around, and there's a photo service where you can have your picture taken through the glass at the other end with all of Tokyo below you. It's kind of a unique angle.